Stacka Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Hi all, I have a lot of dark coloured lava rock that in the last 2 years of chiclid tank ownership has been steadily getting more and more organic material on it. Please see photos. I have a 4 foot tank, that has an external cannister filter with UV light. 1/3 tank level water changes weekly.....with full filter clean monthly (maintaining the sponges/ ceramic media in water from the fish tank at all times) Fish get fed once a day with a super premium chiclid flake, light (blue and white are turned on for 5 hrs a day and the tank gets no direct sunlight. Was wondering... 1. Is this algae? 2. Is this a bad thing, should I be taking steps to get rid of this? 3. If I do need to get rid of it....what's the best way to go about it. Thanks so much in advance Stacey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lictoga Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Looks like a type of beard algae. Other than that im not much help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETFISH Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 black beard, unsitely to some, algae will help to remove nutrients from water reducing nitrate level, if you like the look of it, leave it, you can use (NO MORE BLACKBEARD) to kill it, also can be killed by spot dosing with glutaldahyde, you would probably have to remove all fish and bomb tank with glut. in your case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Google pics of lack Malawi. Thats what it looks like. So if fish health is priority 1, then all is well. Your lava rock is now mature with microbes. It will be helping reduce nitrates. A side effect tho is that nutrient leach from rocks into water creates an ideal location for algael matts. You could add some large siamese flying foxes to eat it. Its not going to hurt any fish. I would only kill if you hate the look. Personally as it is now, I think the tank looks amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacka Posted December 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Thanks for all the replies. I actually like the look of it, fish are doing great so I shan't worry and keep doing what I'm doing then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puncy Posted December 24, 2015 Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 (edited) ive been told that BBA loves blue light, not sure if you can cut the blue light out but that is what i have done with my LEDs and am now waiting to see if it starts to control the BBA full filter clean monthly? ive had my canister filter for 6 months and just done my first clean 2 weeks ago. still had very good water flow but decided to add 2 litres of marine pure to it. Edited December 24, 2015 by puncy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delapool Posted December 24, 2015 Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 It's interesting I've noticed in mine that BBA favours dark volcanic rock as well (along with any plastic surface). The fine, lighter coloured gravel it doesn't grow on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ageofaquariums Posted December 24, 2015 Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 Black algae can absorb and use most light colour. It will very happily grow on nutrient leaching rocks, or nutrient leaching leaves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
